Kaymer in three-way tie at the top

Two-time major champion Martin Kaymer grabbed a share of the lead after the second round of the Alstom Open de France on Friday.
The German shot a second successive two-under-par 69 to take his total to four under par at the challenging Le Golf National layout in Paris.
That was level with Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and local favourite Victor Dubuisson, who both shot one-under-par 70s.
As many as five players lie just one shot back in a packed leaderboard – Englishmen Tyrrell Hatton, Daniel Brooks and James Morrison, South African Jaco van Zyl and Italy’s Francesco Molinari.
Also in the mix, just two shots back, are Maximillian Kieffer, Bernd Wiesberger and Felipe Aguilar.
Kaymer is excited about being near the top of a leaderboard again, following a quiet period.
“It’s been a few months since I’ve been in one of the last groups of a tournament,” said the 30-year-old, who won here in 2009. “Obviously I enjoy that golf course and have had success on that golf course.
“The crowds are behind me and playing with Victor the last couple of days was good fun, too. A lot of people were following our group, so I think it’s going to be an exciting weekend.”
Dubuisson said: “On this course, when you start to make one bogey, two bogeys, then you think that it can turn really bad, but I had a great round and I’m very happy about the way I played today. It was really tough out there with the wind this afternoon.
“It’s great support but I’m so focused on my game I don’t really look around; I can feel the support.
“You can’t afford any mistakes. I will have to play again very well tomorrow, and if the putting is good, it can be a good result.”
It was not a good day for Graeme McDowell, whose bid for a third French Open title ended in disappointing fashion as he missed the cut with a seven-over 78.
McDowell was one of 42 players unable to complete their opening rounds on Thursday after thunderstorms resulted in a delay of almost two and a half hours.
He started early in the morning on Friday and completed an opening 72, but then slumped to his worst ever round at the venue.
“I struggled to get in the fairway mainly and, as firm and as fast as this course is, if you’re not hitting the fairway you have a bit of a problem getting close to the flag,” said McDowell.
“It’s just a bad first nine both days. I rescued it coming in last night but it was a fast turnaround from a 9pm finish last night to an early start this morning and I just didn’t come out of the blocks this morning at all.
“It’s very disappointing, this course has been so good to me over the years, just not to be this year. It’s a work in progress, I’ll keep grinding and it’s a big summer ahead.”
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods falls away at US PGA Championship after nightmare third round
The 15-time major winner had only made the cut with a shot to spare.
-
PGA Championship
Tyrrell Hatton criticises state of greens at Southern Hills after exit
The 30-year-old had branded Augusta National ‘unfair at times’ after closing rounds of 79 and 80 in last month’s Masters.
-
PGA Championship
History with Will Zalatoris in push for first major title at US PGA Championship
The American was runner-up in the 2021 Masters and had recorded four top-10 finishes in his seven major appearances before this week.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy hails ‘ultimate pro’ Tiger Woods for making halfway cut at US PGA
McIlroy could only add a second round of 71 to his opening 65 at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods survives halfway cut to keep US PGA hopes alive
Woods looked set for an early exit following a double bogey on the 11th hole of his second round.
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick in contention at Southern Hills despite being no fan of course
Fitzpatrick added a second-round 69 to his opening 68.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas overcomes testing conditions to set clubhouse target at US PGA
Thomas carded a second-consecutive 67 at Southern Hills for a halfway total of 134, six under par.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy still the man to beat amid challenging conditions in Tulsa
With the weather due to improve as the day wore on, McIlroy’s tee time had the potential to prove significantly advantageous.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy on top but not getting ahead of himself at US PGA Championship
The Northern Irishman carded seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 65 to record his lowest round in a major since the 2011 US Open.
-
News
UPS delivers a sponsorship setback to Lee Westwood
The company has ended its deal in an apparent response to Westwood’s involvement with a series of Saudi-backed events.